The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-11
MIR. BEECHER'S
Opposition 10 Congressional Recon-
strucI1On-The DOctI Inc OF For
KIveness.

Opposition 10 Congressional Recon-
strucJ1On-The DOctI Inc OF For
Klveness.
New York Tribune. On Mr.. Be- CHI.
er's raturn from England, wearisd
and exhausted as he was, bis over
taxed energies were forced to meet
the strain of receptions and pubic
speeches. He delivered addresses at
the Academy of Music and elsewhere
to wildly enthusiastic audiences, re-
counting his experiences in Eng an 1
and speaking on the state of public
opinion. Soon after the close of the
war he made visit to The South. He
went to Fort Sumter with GArris m
and msnv others to raise sgain the
national flag. In one of the largest
churches in South Carolina he
pre- ached to an immense gregation
of liberaled slaves. Then the assassin
alton of Lincoln cast chill over the
whole civilized word, aud Mr.. Beech
err, as one of the nations chief mourn
era, poured out peoples deep grief
from his pulpit. The reconstruction
pei d under johnson came on. Then
Mr.. BeeGhar took position that was
mp lsisble tn a large Dart of the
Republican parry. He delivered
n sermon on the forgiveness of in
juries, aud quoted tie existing crisis
as flung occasion for applying he
d. ctrine, and in the well known Cleve
land letter he emphasized his position.
The frank expression of his views
csuaed a disagreement with Henry O.
Bowen, the editor of the Independent
to which Mr. Bsecher had continued
IN contribute, although he resigoed
the editorship in 1869 The Independent
ceased to publish Mr.. Beecher's SER
mons, and an editorial appeared dis
claiming any respon ibiiity fer his ut
tefancee, whereupon Mr.. Bsecher
promptly replied that he was not re-
sponsible for the utterances OF the
editor. A year or two afterwsri the
pr sct was broached to him of start.
ing new journal to be called the
Christidn Unlon Mr. Beecher dec med
at FIST, rot Wishing to run counter to
the Independent which WAS edit d by
his friends Henry D. Bowen and
Theodore Hilton, whcss feelings and
inter, 8 he carefully respected. At
last, however, he sgle ed to take some
share in the Church Uqion, email
journal under the charge Of Cram.
mond Kennedy. The name was after
ward changed to the Christian Union
Mr.. Bsecher assumed the editor hip.
nominally at least, in January, 1870,
and contributed to its pages, and ia it
his sermons we're printed. Twelve
,,,AnNha loknr hn nftanlatfara h nd 10,
creased from 5000 TO over $4,000.
After the agitation that followed the
close Of the war had subsidized Mr..
Beecher's political life YVES less active,
although he always used his voice and
il huenCe in the pulpit and elsewhere |
to promote the success of cause be |
approved. He more than ever de- |
voted his energies to the pastoral |
work Of his own church. There was
a lsTge revival in 1915, which was
succeeded in later years by macy
others. In Plymouth Church, when |
always was in way temperance
and an slavery srciey, the triumph
OF the latter cause gave a larger OPP
pc tunity for charitable work, Mis-
sions were s'arted in the vicinity of
the church, vita reading rooms, and
the time and labor OF m-mbers of the
church were devoted t. missionary
work and lay teschiog The sale OF seats,
which supports the church, amounted
even in 1867, to 5000 Toe
wsebly payer meet ngs, conducted
like the converse ion Of the family
citcle, ear y formed feature in he
In the Sunday school, Bible